Firing mechanism.



No. 734,005. ED JULY 21, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

R. P. STOUT & F. G. H

FIRING MEGHANIS APPLICATION FILED DEC. 22,

s SHEETSQSHEET 1 No. 734,005. PA TED JULY 21, 1903* R. P. STOUT & F. G.HUGHB FIRING MEGHAN APPLICATION FILED DBO. 2 02.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET-Z.

No. 734,005. PATENTED JULY 21, 1903.. R. P. STOUT & I. e. HUGHES. FIRINGMECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 22, 1902.

NO MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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: 7 m W wMn uwm l v ML 0g g Q TJNTTED STATES Patented July 21, 1903.

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ROBERT P. STOUT AND FREDERICK HUGHES, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYIP VANIA,ASSIGNORS TO BETHLEHEM STEEL COMPANY, OF SOUTH lilfl'lll- LEI-IBM,PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSVLVANTA.

Fii-iiNG MECHANiSiVi.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 734,005, dated July 21,1903.

Application filed Dece nher 22,190 2- Serial No. 136,300. (N model.)

-T0 ctZZ whmn, it may concern: v I

Be it known that we, ROBERT P. Sron'r and FREDERICK G. HUeHEacit-dzensof the United States, residing at Bethlehem, in the county ofNorthampton and St-ate of Pennsylvania,

have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin l'iringlvlechanism,of which the following is a specification. Ourinvention relates to the firing mechio anism of a gun; and it consistsinsupporting a firing-block niovahly at the inner end of the breech-blockin such relation to the firingrod ca other actuating device and soeoinbined with actuating means that the firingblock and its pointwill'be in position to explode the primer only when the breech-block isproperly closed, as fully set forth herein after and shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional plan of thebreech mechanism of a gun embodying ourinvention. Fig. 2 is a transversesection on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side view of thebreechblock in part section; and Fig. 4 is a section on the line at 4',Fig. 1. I

Thegun Ais provided with the usual threaded breech for the reception ofthe breech-' block B, and the latter carries suitable firingmechanism-for instance, a springactuated 3o firing-head 0, although itmight be an elec trio or other firing device; As shown, the firing-blockD has a firing-pin and is carried by the breech-block, but is capable oflateral movement thereon, and we provide means whereby the said pin isbrought into position to explode the cartrid go only when thebreechblock is practically fully home to tiring position. Differentmeans may be provided for shifting the firing-pin into and out of posi-40 tion. As shown, the firing-block D is supported to slidelongitudinally by a cal-tier, (shown as a plate E,) which slidestransversely at the inner end of the breech-block in a projection t,less in diameter than the block, and

5 is held to one side before inserting the breechblock by a spring 8,lying partly in a groove of the breech-block and partly in a recess inthe plate E. The firing'pin is thus normally maintainedin safetyposition until the breech- 5o block is inserted. To shift thecarrieisplate and pin as the breech-block is closed, we provide inclinesor cams 4' 5 within the breech in position to receive the carrier-platebetween them with its ends opposite the inclines, the latter so arrangedthat the final rotary movement of the breech-block will shift thecarrier-plate against the stress of the spring 3 and bring thefiring-pin properly opposite the firing-point of the cartridge just asthe moven. -nt (if the breech-block is oom- 6o pleted. The cartr dge maythen be fired by releasing the ilrng-head, which is projected againstthe firing-block, driving its point into the cartridge. it will be seenthat as the fir-- ing-block is not in position to coact with the ocartridge until the breech is fully closed 'no premature firing canoccur.

To facilitate the connection of the carrierplate with the breech-block,the latter has a transverse-groove 20, with side lugs 7 7 at each edge,said lugs separated by spaces equal in length to the lugs and adaptedfor the passage of lugs 8 at the edges of the carrierplate. The lugs arerelatively so arranged that the carrier-plate can be applied to pass itslugs between those of the block until the face-of the plate is flushwith the block, when the plate is moved longitudinally to carry its lugsback of those of the block. The outer part of the carrier-plate is of awidth to completelyfill the groove in outside, the lugs 7 thus closingthe groove, practically securing dustproof joints between "thecarrier-plate and the breech-block, and as the projection t is lessindiameter than the block the carrier can extend the length of andproject beyond the ends of the groove, completely filling the same atall times.

Without limiting ourselves to the precise construction and arrangementshown, we claim--- 1. The combination with a gun and its removablebreeclnblock, of a movable firingbloclt carried at the inner end oi. thebreech-- block, and means for shifting the firing-block across the innerface of the breech-block to firing position as the breech is closed,suhstantially as set forth.-

2. The combination with the gun and its rotatable brecclnblock, qt afiringblock carried at the inner end of the breech-block,

means for maintaining the firing-block at one ing-block across the innerface of the breech- 4 block into firing position only as the breechblockis turned to fully close the breech, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with the gun audits rotatable breech-block, of afiring-block carried at the inner end of the breeclrblock, and means forshifting the firing-block across the inner face of the breech-.blockinto firing position by the rotation of the breech-block, substantiallyas set forth.

a. The combination with the breech mechanism of a gun, of a'firing-blockmounted at the inner endof the breech-block, and means for carrying thefiring-block across the inner face of the breech-block into firingposition as the breech-block is carried to its closed position,substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with the breech mechanism of a gun, of a carriercarryinga firingblock mounted at the inner end ofthe breechblock, andmeans for moving the carrier with its tiring-block across the inner faceof the breech-block, to bring the firing-block into Ii ring position asthe breech-block is-carried to its closed position, substantially as setforth. v

' 6. The combination with the breech-block having a transverse groove atits inner end,

ofa carrier fitting said groove and carrying a firing-block, and meansfor shifting the carrier across the inner faee of the breechblock tocarry the tiring-pin to a central position as the breech is closed,substantially as set forth. I

7. The combination with the breech-block having at the inner end aprojection, less in diameter than the block, with a transverse groove,of a carrier fitting said groove and carrying a-liring-block and meansfor shifting the carrier as the block is turned, substantially as setforth.

8. The combination with the breech-block, of a movable carrier at theinner end of the breech-block, a firingblock sliding in the carrier, andmeans for shifting the carrier, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination with the breech-block the carrier and for carryingsaid rod against the tiringblock when the latter is in firing position,substantially as set forth.

10. The combination of the rotatable breech-block, firing-block andcarrier therefor at the inner end of the breech-block, andactuating-inclines on the gun for shifting the carrier, substantially asset forth.

- 11. The combination ofthe grooved breechblock, carrier sliding in thegroove of the block, means to move'the carrier, actuatingspring betweenthe carrier and breechblock, and a firing-block carried by the carrier,substantially as set forth.

12. The combination of the breech-block having a projection with atransverse groove at the inner end and side lugs, firing-block, carrierfor said firing-block fitting said groove and having side lugs engagingthose of the rier-plate equal in width to said groove, and

means for moving the carrier as the breechblock is turned, substantiallyas set forth.

14c. The combination of the breech-block, its projectiont at the'innerend with a transverse groove and side lugs, firing-block, carrier forsaid firing-block fitting said groove and having side lugs engagingthose of the breech-block, and means for moving the carrier as thebreech-block is turned, substantially as set forth.

15. .The combination of the gun, breechblock, 'carriersliding at theinner end of the breech-block, firing-block movable in said carrier, andinclines on the gun arranged to engage the carrier and shift itpositively in both directions, substantially as set forth.

16. The combination of the gun, breechblock, carrier sliding at theinner end of the breech-block, firing-block movable in said carrier,inclines on the gun arranged to engage the carrier and shift itpositively in both directions, and a spring for holding the carrier toone side when the breech-block is out of the gun, substantially as setforth.

In testimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

' ROBERT P. STOUT.

FREDERICK G. HUGHES. \Vitnesses:

JOHN ROSEWARNE, Jr., PAULE. KRESSLY.

IIO

